Traffic sign or signal



Aug. 30, 1932. BRYAN ET L 1,874,884

TRAFFIC SIGN OR SIGNAL Filed June 18, 1931 ZAn .Z/au'ner.

Patented Aug. 30, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FLOYD D. BRYAN AND JOHN BLLUNER, 01' 8'1. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNORS '10 S. G. ADAMS COMPANY, 01' ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION OF MISSOURI TRAFFIC SIG-N OB SIGNAL Application filed June 18, 1931. Serial No. 545,250.

This invention relates generally to traflic signs and has more particular reference to a trafiic sign or signal of the self-reflecting t e.

" A trafiic sign or signal of the self-reflecting type commonly comprises, so far as we are aware, a display-panel supported at the required elevation on a post or standard set in the ground, the panel carrying a lural- 10 ity of light-reflecting indicia suitab y arranged for traflic-warning purposes and the like.

Further, so far as we are aware, as the panel of the sign is generally constructed 1:; merely of sheet-metal, the manner of supporting the panel must take into account the inherent weaknesses of sheet metal structures. At the same time, consideration must be given to the frequent necessity of repairing or replacing the light-reflecting elements in the panel for maintaining the efliciency of the sign in its intended functions.

Our invention has hence for its chief object the provision of a traffic signal or sign embodying unique means for mounting the sign-panel on its supporting post in a manner adequately enabling the sign to safely withstandthe stresses to which in service it 80 may be subjected and permitting ready and convenient access to the reflecting elements for maintaining the service or signalling efliciency of the sign.

And with the above and other objects in view, our invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination of parts hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a broken front elevational view of a traflic-sign or signal embodying our invention, illustrated as in fixed upstanding signalling position at a street crosslng or the like Figure 2 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the signal, showing the panel or body of the signal in normal raised or signalling position in dot-dash lines and in lower ositioai for indicia repair purposes in full hnes; an

Figure 3 is a fragmentary enlarged topplan view of the sign, showing the post and the bracket-catch thereof.

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawing, which illustrates a preferred embodiment of our invention, the present trafiie sign or signal includes a display-panel A comprising preferably a suitably stamped and formed plate of sheet-metal of suitable contour and provided with a plurality of apertures or openings 1 arranged for visually displaying, with the aid of preferably removably inserted reflecting elements or indicia 2, a suitable trafiic notice or the like, such, for instance, as shown, the word Stop.

The elements 2 are insertable from the back of the panel A for neatly and snugly fitting into the apertures 1 and are detachably or removably retained in position in the apertures 2 preferably by means of spring-clips 3, which lattef'tmd the main body of the indieia elements 2 project rearwardly from the panelA,

as best seen in Figure 2, and are suitably protectively enclosed or housed by a casing or shell 4 secured referably by means of suitable fastening elements or bolts 5 detachably upon the rear face of the panel A. By withdrawing the bolts 5, the casing 4 may be readily detached from the panel A for repair or replacement of the. elements 2.

B designates a post comprising in the present instance apreferably tubular member or pipe, of which an end is in practice firmly set or embedded in the ound, a foundation or the like, for supporting the panel A at a suitably elevated or other readily visible position at a street intersection, as may best serve its intended purpose.

The sign in service is subjected-to the damaging influences, not only of wind and weather, but often to accidental or malicious as-, saults on the part of motorists, pedestrians,v and the like. The panel A must hence be firmly and securely attached to the post B and the latter, in turn, firmly and securely set in the ground or other post supporting means, suitably for withstanding the assaults made upon it. At the same time, the rear face of the panel A should be freely accessible for the 100 purpose of renewing or replacing broken or damaged reflecting elements or indicia 2, for maintaining the traflic-warning efiicacy of the sign. I v

For such several purposes we provide on post B an integral upwardly projecting preferably flattened stem 6 spannin substantially the height or vertical width 0 the panel A, and at the base of the stem 6 is mounted an angular bracket 7 carrying at its horizontally projecting end a pintle or in 8, which pivotally supports a co-operatmg hinge-leaf 9.

The panel A at its lower margin is, by means of suitable fastening elements 10, fixed to the hinge-leaf 9 for .swin able movement of the panel A towards and rom the stem 6 of the post B.

When the panel A is swung to normal vertical or display-position, as shown in dot dash lines in Figure 2, the casing 4 will reside so closely adjacent to the post B as to substantially preclude the removal of the casing 4 from the panel A. However, when the panel A is swung downwardly, a projecting margina1 portion 11 of the panel A is adapted for engagement from beneath with the bracket 7 for co-operatively therewith supporting the panel A in reclining substantially horizontal non-displaying position on the post, as best seen in full lines in Figure 2, and it will be readily seen that, when the panel A is in such horizontally reclined and supported position, convenient access may be obtained from in front of the sign-structure for removing the casing 4 from the panel A for then most convenientlly) exposing the indicia 2 and clips 3, and ena ling the performance of the necessary servicing or repair work with the greatest ease and dispatch.

For securing the panel A in a vertical or indicia dis laying position on the fixed post B, we pre erably provide a latch-bracket 12 having at an end an angularly depending ear suitably, as at 13, pivotally connected to the panel A adjacent its upper margin. At its other end, the bracket 12 is provided with an angularly upstanding ear or catch 14 adapted for flatwise engagement with the stem 6, the car 14 being provided with a lateral slot 15 having on each of its opposite side margins, at the edge of the car 14, a pro ecting lug 16, best seen in Figure 3.

On pivotal actuation of the bracket 12 from reclined position, as shown by'dot-dash lines in Figure 1, to vertical position, as shown by full lines in Figure 1. the slot 15 is adapted to embrace a bolt 17 loosely mounted in and throu h the post stem 6, the bolt 17 having a pre arably square-head 18 disposed on the front side of the stem 6 and a nut 19 on the rear side of the stem 6 for drawing the bolt thereon.

Obviously, by slacking oif the nut 19, the bolt 17 may be forwardly shifted until its head 18 clears the lugs 16, when the bracketlatch 12 may be swun as described for engaging the bolt 17. e bolt 17 is then rearwardly shifted for engagin a flat side of the head 18 with the lugs 16, whereby the bolt 17 is held from turning while the nut 19 is tightened, and at the same time the bracket 12 is fastened securely on the bolt 17, as well as to the stem 6.

The panel A, thus retained at both its upper and lower margins securely upon the post B, is fully enabled to safely withstand the stresses to which in service it may reasonably be expected to encounter. At the same time, the panel A may, as we have described, be conveniently manipulated, without disturbing the fixed location of the post B, for

repairing. or replacing the reflecting elements 2 for completel maintaining the full signalling efliciency o the sign.

will be understood that changes and modifications in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination of the several parts of our new signal may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without departing from the nature and princi le of our invention.

aving thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is- 1. In a trafiic-signal or the like, a post for embedment in upstanding position in the ground, a panel, an indicia-housing-shell removably disposed on a face of the panel, the panel being hingedly connected at a margin to the post for swingable movement for disposing the shell intermediate the post and the panel when the panel is in indicia-displaying position and for disposing the shell for removal when the panel is in lowered position, and means for releasably securing the panel at another margin to the post in displaying-position, said means including a fastening element on the post, a latch member pivoted on the panel and having a notch for reception of the fastening element, and lugs on the latch member adjacent said notch for retaining the fastening element therein.

2. In a traflic-signal or the like, in combination, a standard, a sign-panel, a housing-shell mounted for removal on the rear face of the panel, and means for hingedly connecting the panel to the standard for swingable movement for non-removably disposing the shell intermediate the standard and the panel when the panel is in display position and for accessibly disposing the shell for removal when the panel is in non-displaying position.

. 3. In a trailic-signal or the like, in combination, a standard for embedment in upstanding position in the ground, an apertured panel, a signalling-element insertable in said aperture for visible exposure on the outer face of the panel, and a shell mounted for removal in element-housing position on the rear face of the panel, the panel being hingedly-connected to the standard for swingable movement for non-removably disposing said shell intermediate the standard and the panel when the panel is in display position and for accessibly disposing the shell for removal when the panel is in non-displaying position.

4. In a traffic-signal or the like, in combination, a standard for embedment in upstand ing position in the ground, an apertured panel, a signalling-element insertable in said aperture for visible exposure on the outer face of the panel, a shell mounted for removal on the rear face of the panel for housing said element, and a hinge-bracket having members fixed to the standard and to the panel for connecting the panel to the standard for swingable movement for non-removably disposing said shell intermediate the standard and the panel when the panel is in display position and for accessibly disposing the shell for removal when the panel is in non; display position.

5. In a traflic-signal or the like, in combination, a standard for embedment in upstanding position in the ground, an apertured panel, a signalling-element insertable in said aperture for visible exposure on the outer face of the panel, a shell mounted for removal on the rear face of the panel for housing said element, a hinge-bracket having a first member fixed to the standard and a second member fixed to a margin of the panel for con-i necting the panel to the standard for swingable movement for non-removably disposing said shell intermediate the standard and the panel when the panel is in display position and for accessibly disposing the shell for removal when the panel is in non-display position, and means for releasably securing the panel at another margin to the standard in displaying-position.

6. In a traflic-signal or the like, in combination, a standard for embedment in upstanding position in the ground, an apertured panel, a signalling-element insertable in said aperture for visible exposure on the outer face of the panel, a shell mounted for removal 8 on the rear face of the panel for housing said element, a hinge-bracket having a first member fixed to the standard and a second member fixed to a margin of the panel for connecting the panel to the standard for swingable movement for non-removably disposing said shell intermediate the standard and the panel when the panel is in display position and for accessibly disposing the shell for removal when the panel'is in non-displa position, and means including a fastening e ement on the'post and a member pivotally mounted on the panel co-operable with the fastening element for releasably securing the panel at another margin to the post in displayingposition.

7. In a traffic-signal or the like, in combina-. tion, a standard for embedment in upstanding position in the ground, an apertured panel, a signalling-element insertable in said aperture for visible exposure on the outer face of the panel, a shell mounted for removal on the rear face of the panel for housing said element, and means including a hinge-bracket having co-operably jointed members fixed to the standard and the panel for connecting the panel to the standard for supporting the panel in upright position approximately parallel with the standard with the. shell nonremovably disposed intermediate the standard and the panel and for also supporting the panel in reclining approximately horizontal position relatively to the standard for accessibly'presenting the shell for removal.

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification.

FLOYD D. BRYAN. JOHN BLAUNER. 

